Two coordination polymers created via in situ ligand synthesis involving C-N and C-C bond formation.

We report the synthesis and crystal structures of two transition metal-based coordination polymers comprising ligand molecules not included in the original reaction mixtures but instead formed in situ during hydrothermal treatment. Zinc meso-iminodisuccinate hydrate (I), Zn(2)(C(8)H(7)NO(8)).0.57H(2)O, formed from zinc acetate and L-aspartic acid, and tetraaquanickel(II) 5,10-dioxo-5,10-dihydro-4,9-dioxa-pyrene-2,7-dicarboxylate (II), Ni(H(2)O)(4)(C(16)H(4)O(8)), formed from nickel acetate and 5-hydroxyisophthalic acid. We show that the formation of I takes place via a fumaric acid intermediate, while the formation of II requires the formation of a new C-C bond. The structure of I consists of weakly interacting sheets, while the structure of II consists of strongly hydrogen-bonded chains. Crystal data: for I, P2(1)/n (14), a = 10.073 A, b = 9.894 A, c = 12.053 A, beta = 105.605 degrees, V = 1156.87(13) A(3), Z = 4; for II, P1 (2), a = 5.011 A, b = 6.526 A, c = 12.305 A, alpha = 76.868 degrees, beta = 84.988 degrees, gamma = 87.619 degrees, V = 390.3(4) A(3), Z = 1.